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LA Clippers Rumors: Blake Griffin ‘planning to re-sign’ in L.A.

By Tom West

December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) moves the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) moves the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The LA Clippers have a lot on the line next season, but one encouraging sign is that Blake Griffin is reportedly planning to re-sign in Los Angeles in 2017 free agency.

The 2016-17 NBA season is a pivotal one for the LA Clippers. It’s hard to gauge what last season could have truly been for them after Blake Griffin was out for most of the regular season and was eliminated from the playoffs due to aggravating his quad injury. If that wasn’t enough, Chris Paul was also taken down by injury in the same game of the first round against Portland. It’s left Clippers fans frustrated at another wasted season, but there are positives on the horizon.

What Griffin decides to do next summer will be unknown until next year actually rolls around. He has the option to opt out of his contract and test free agency, receive numerous max offers from around the league, and leave the Clippers if he chooses.

Perhaps that could be the case if frustrations rise with another early playoff exit, but Steve Kyler or Basketball Insiders has reported that Griffin’s intention seems to be staying put:

"Sources close to Griffin have been adamant that he is planning to re-sign in L.A. and that he’s not open to going anywhere. Clippers president and head coach Doc Rivers has mirrored that, saying he believes Griffin retires as a Clipper…Sources close to the situation say win or lose, Rivers is not open to trade talks on Griffin or Paul and that he’s not worried about either walking away in July."

If there are still any ignorantly optimistic Boston Celtics fans out there, searching for Twitter rumors and hoping Blake is dealt to Boston, this can further put that to rest.

With Griffin’s interest in the entertainment industry, whether it’s dabbling in stand-up comedy or producing movies, the draw of Los Angeles makes a lot of sense. One thing we do know is that the Clippers would (and should) like to keep Blake as long as possible.

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He’s in a great situation with the Clippers both on and off the court, and whether or not Paul decides to leave, there are reasons for Griffin to stick around for. DeAndre Jordan for one, who’s still under contract for three more years, can allow Griffin to continue his devastating frontcourt tandem and a close friendship.

The real question is how much importance Griffin places in winning championships. Will a trip to the second round or possibly the Conference Finals be enough to quench his competitive hunger? That we cannot know.

Nevertheless, it’s still promising for Clippers fans that Kyler reported a continued dismissal of trading either Paul or Griffin from Doc (as we would expect). Not to mention the adamance from his sources that Griffin is already planning to re-sign.

Next: Ranking the Clippers' new players from free agency

We still have to wait and see how the upcoming season pans out and how far the Clippers can go in a Western Conference that features Kevin Durant‘s Golden State Warriors. But LA Clippers fans can at least feel encouraged.

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